Increase in fighting in Eastern Ukraine

4/11/2018

Christmas is a time to celebrate "good news of great joy", to
enjoy a feast and presents with family and friends. But in Eastern
Ukraine, where conflict continues, many are living in fear and in
destitution.

People have lost their loved ones, their jobs, their homes; many
elderly have lost access to their pensions; children's schools and
hospitals are being destroyed. Food insecurity has doubled and 1.6
million people have been displaced. Over 10,300 people have been
killed in four and a half years.

For many people in Eastern Ukraine, Christmas is just another
day of waking up with a sense of dread. Many wake up grieving for
the people and the life they once had. Some have no way of
obtaining the food or medicine they need. Others have no access to
electricity, gas, firewood, or clean water.

After a lull in fighting in Ukraine over the summer, the UN is
reporting the last few weeks have seen a sharp increase in civilian
deaths, more than half of which are due to landmines and explosive
remnants of war.

Underfunding is causing agencies to withdraw aid: "This has
forced agencies, such as the World Food Programme to withdraw from
Ukraine, even though 1.2 million people are food insecure," states
Ursula Mueller, UN Assistant-Secretary-General for Humanitarian
Affairs.

Mission Without Borders remains in Ukraine and aims to send
1,700 food parcels to the most vulnerable people in the war torn
east during the winter months. The parcels will contain basic food
supplies, treats, Christian literature and, where possible, warm
clothes.